The Vampire Diaries Review: Guess Who's Back...

Heading into this week's season finale, viewers of The Vampire Diaries were led to believe the series had built to a battle for Mystic Falls, one side anchored by Elena's birth father, the other by two of her close, undead friends.

Instead, John's device-based scheme was completed halfway into "Founder's Day" and the attention then shifted to the fallout from it... a fallout whose ramifications will be discussed by fans all summer long. Wow. What a season finale!

Producers had promised us a bunch of cliffhangers and they delivered. Below, we analyze each, culminating in the most shocking event of them all.

RIP, Caroline? First, let us bid farewell to Anna. May she finally find peace and happiness, reunited with her mom in vampire heaven. Will Caroline soon join her in the next life? My guess is no. While this character isn't key to any ongoing storyline, the show would have killed her off last night if that was its intention.

Welcome, werewolves The reason behind Tyler's accident wasn't to get rid of Caroline. It was to push Tyler's transformation further along. To that, we say: hallelujah! In our Vampire Diaries Round Tables, we've been clamoring for more on this individual's apparent affection for full moons. It was teased perfectly on the finale. Tyler won't just have to deal with what he is now.

He'll have to deal with the death of his father. Does anyone else smell the discovery of family secrets and the impending arrival of more werewolves? We know how much fun that has been on the vampire front all season long.

The new Bonnie: I love this evolution. This witch knows who she is now and she's not shy about her loyalties. Might Elena have to choose between her BFF and her BF next year at some point?

A turning point for Jeremy It started with the death of his parents; it was pushed along by the passing of Vicki and his sister's betrayal; and it ended with the murder of Anna. Sick of feeling such pain, Jeremy swallowed some blood, downed some pills and left viewers wondering: really?!?

Will the pseudo suicide attempt really work? Will Jeremy truly go to the dark side in order to alleviate his suffering? On most shows, I'd shoot down the notion that a main character would actually end his human life. But The Vampire Diaries has proven it's unafraid to shock. Sound off in our forum: Will we see vampire Jeremy next season?

Hmmm... am I forgetting any development from the finale? Oh yeah: KATHERINE RETURNED!!!!!

Double the Dobrev, quadruple the suspense The show got me. I thought the finale would conclude with Damon kissing Elena, followed by the latter screaming over Jeremy's unconscious body. The episode was solid up to that point, but it felt like a let down. Ending such an incredible season on the fate of a character that was never central to it? Didn't feel like it would have fans buzzing until September.

Then, Elena grabbed that knife. Then, John cried Katherine?!? Then, my eyes bulged, her face morphed and we were left with the stunning realization: Katherine is back.

Just consider all the possibilities this allows for:

Damon goes into next season thinking he kissed Elena, which is ironic: just as this vampire discovers his humanity, his first major decision is to hurt the brother that saved his life. If Damon can truly feel now, I can't wait to see how he feels about that.

Of course, Damon actually got to first base with the woman he's been searching for since the 19th century. When will he find this out? And, while he may have referred to Katherine as a "bitch" last week, are his affections for her actually gone?

Let's mourn John Gilbert for his moment. Yeah, he's kind of a murdering bastard, but he had his reasons - and he's also Elena's birth father. Can't imagine she deals with his death well.

Was Isobel behind any of these developments? We know she's in contact with Katherine. Will we see Alaric's ex-wife again, as well? What is her true agenda?

Indeed, it was a stunning conclusion to what had been a somewhat meandering, disappointing episode. But that all changed with the thrust of Katherine's knife.

There's no new episode to tease for next week, so we'll just ask readers: How loudly did you scream when Elena kissed Damon? Do you feel jipped that it was actually Katherine? Or just curious and excited that she's back? Sound off now and consider the following Vampire Diaries quotes from "Founder's Day."

Damon: I'm not a hero, Elena. I don't do good. It's not in me. Elena: Maybe it is. | permalink

Damon: Somewhere along the way, you decided I was worth saving. I wanted to thank you for that. Elena: You're welcome. | permalink

Bonnie: You saw what I was able to do tonight. I know who I am now. If Damon spills one drop of human blood, I'll take him down. | permalink

Damon: Life sucks either way, Jeremy. At least if you're a vampire, you don't have to feel bad about it if you don't want to. | permalink

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wait gillian she didnt see jeremy she went to the kitchen were katherine was member no one knows bout jeremy

Gillian•May 19, 2010 23:32

1.So the episode was all regular blah blah blah. Elena kisses Damon (Made me literally punch my Elena poster) and she sees Jeremy's dead body. BooHooHoo2.OH HELL NO! KATHERINE IS BACK IN ACTION! I was sort of hoping maybe Elena and Katherine look at each other and Elena is all :O and Katherine just like smirks or something. Then it ends. That would have been some real dramarama. But even this was still pretty nasty. I had to pee! At least I made it 2 the bathroom, but omg almost had pee in my pants!!!! When "Elena" kissed Damon I was like slut!!!! She just was all I luv u Stefan I luv u I luv u!!!! But then I was like what happened to Elena! Then, there was something that just didnt feel right. Like whether it was the way she stood, or talked, or looked. Something sent chills down my spine. Then, she cuts off Johns hand off! I was like what is up with Elena! Because he is her dad, even if my dad was a murdering jackass I wouldn't flippin' cut his hand off. Then how she banged him and held him against the wall, with that force. It looked like something Damon or whatever had done to someone in past episodes. I knew it. Elena acting weird+vampire strength out of nowhere=KATHERINE THE BAD ASS IS BACK!

marie•May 17, 2010 13:36

it was so obvious that wasnt elena kissing damon because shes with stefan and she must have told stefan "i love YOU" like 3 times b4 they kissed so why would she come onto damon like that? DUH! i dont know if i will survive 2 months without the one show that i live, sleep, and obsess about every thursday...f*** that sh** but i hope that they at least play repeated episodes on thursdays so i can keep my happiness alive untill season 2 premiers

Damon knew after the kiss it was "Katherine". He was feeling his mouth and he's no dummy! thinking no 2 women kiss alike. Hmmmm

0210bonie•May 16, 2010 19:24

OMG i literally screamed loud when they kissed then to be baffled that it was katherine. they kissed because as humans how can you deny the potent attraction? and so kiss is inevitable, then regret can follow

just saying•May 16, 2010 17:15

I was glad he was kissing kathrine. damon slept with and turned elenas mother why would she want him.

jenna•May 16, 2010 03:22

I HATE THAT ANNA DIED!! ahe and her mother should LIVE! AND OMG K IS BACK!! I really wanted real DELENA action..poor guy thinks he kissed her when e didn't!

britney•May 16, 2010 02:19

omfg i think katherines gunna kill elena an shes gunna come back as a total bad ass vampire. That would be so kool watching elena beat the shit outta katherine without thought. this episode shocked me so bad i nearly blacked out ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!